Wrench.



PATENTBD APR. 28, 1903.

N. B. STONE.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

of a right angle.

NlTED STATES ATENT FFICE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 726,782, dated Apri128, 1903.- Application filed June 20,1902. Serial lilo. 112,450. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that L-NATHANIEL B. STONE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Outlook, in the county of Yakima and State of-Washington,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWrenches, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in certain improvements in the constructionof wrenches, particularly wrenches of that class commonly termedcarriage-wrenches, being especially adapted for the removal andreplacing of the nuts of vehicles, whereby such a wrench is providedwhich is very convenient in use, as will be hereinafter moreparticularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1is a top or plan view of a wrench embodying my said invention; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a cross-section looking in thedirection indicated by the arrow from the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 1, andFig. 4 a longitudinal section on the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 1.

The wrench consists of a cast-metal bar or handle A, having a socket Aon one end of a form adapted to receive the nut for which it isintended. Said socket is set ofi to one side of the line of the handle,as shown, whereby it is adaptedto extend within the hub-flange to engagethe not, as is usual in this class of wrenches. A spring-clamp a, formedon the end of the spring-bar a extends within the socket A, on one sidethereof, projecting through a slot in the wall of said socket. The bar ais of spring metal and bent in the form Its lower arm rests in a recessin the top of the handle A and its vertical arm in a recess in theadjacent. face of the Wall of the socket A. A cross-pin 1 or a suitableretaining device secures said bar in said recess at its angle. Across-pin 2 is also preferably provided in the slot in the upper side ofthe socket, which serves to limit the movement of the vertical arm ofthe spring. By reason of this cross-pin the upper end of the clamp isprevented from projecting inwardly to interfere with the ready placingof the socket on the nut and from being bent outwardly sufficiently tobe ineffective in use.

The clamp being carried on the long flexible spring extending parallelwith the side of said socket moves bodily in a plane substantiallyparallel with the"side-of the nut and gives easily to permit the wrenchto be placed on the n ut and at the same time presses upon said nut withforce sufficient to prevent it from being accidentally dislodged fromthe socket. A circular finger-hole 3, with a smooth interior surface, isformed in the handle about midway its length, and other apertures 4:, 5,and 6 angular in form may be provided in said handle to fitvarious-sized nuts on the vehicle, and a universal toothed wrench 7 ispreferably formed on the outer end of the handle, so that the tool willbe adapted for the removal of any nut on the vehicle.Laterally-projecting wings a are formed on the back of handle A at itspoint of connection with the socket A, which serve to support thewrenchfrom tipping over when laid down, as is usually done after theoperation of removing an axlenut while the axle is being oiled. Thisserves to prevent the said nut from being tipped into the dust or dirt,(a common annoyance in oiling vehicles,) and thus avoids the necessityof cleaning said nut before replacing it.

In use the socket A is placed over the nut in the usual manner, theclamping-spring a. being pressed backinto the recess by the operation,said springbeing bent at its angle under cross pinil and the clampreceding bodily into the recess in the wall of the socket.Saidclamping-spring will press against the side of the nut withsuflicient force to retain it against accidental dislodgment from saidsocket while removed from the axle. After the nut has been started offthe wrench can be rapidly and conveniently whirled around and around byinserting the finger through the aperture 3 in'the handle until the nutshall be entirely removed, when the wrench will fall and rest upon thefinger and-can be laid aside with the nut held in-its socket by saidspringuntil it is desired'toreplace the nut, when after being started onit can be rapidly turned to its seat in. the same manner. By reason ofthe finger-hole 3 being'made circular and smooth this operation can becarried on without inconvenience or injury. By this means the nut can berapidly and conveniently manipulated without the necessity of touchingit with the hand and will be safely supported while removed withoutdanger of tipping into the dirt, as before mentioned.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wrench comprising a handle, a slotted socket for the nut thereon, aspring-clamp seated in the angle of the handle and socket and having ajaw at its extremity constructed to move bodily back and forth in theslot, substantially as set forth.

2. A wrench comprising a handle and slotted socket thereon for the nut,a spring-clamp seated adjacent the outside of said socket and having ajaw atits extremity mounted to move bodily back and forth in the slot,substantially as set forth.

3. A wrench comprising a handle and slotted socket thereon for the nut,a spring-clamp therefor having a jaw on its extremity arranged to moveback and forth in the slot,

and a stop for limiting said movement of said jaw, substantially as setforth.

4. A wrench comprising a handle, a slotted socket for the nut thereon, aspring-clamp mounted with its clamping-jaw, or face to move bodily backand forth in said slot, the handle to said wrench being formed with acircular aperture with a smooth interior surface adapted to receive theoperators finger, substantially as set forth.

5. A wrench the handle whereof is provided with a circular aperturehaving a smoothinterior surface adapted to receive the operators finger,substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Washington,District of Columbia, this 14th day of June, A. D. 1902.

NATHANIEL B. STONE. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, DAVID STUART WAU'rERs.

